Where Dewsbury-Hall to Chelsea deal leaves Gallagher as exit talks reignite

Chelsea continue to be one of the busiest teams in the summer transfer window so far. Both for ins and outs, the Blues have been key players during the two weeks the window has been officially open so far.

Three signings are already done for Enzo Maresca, with exits being confirmed as well. Players continue to be linked with Chelsea exits, but more are named in conjunction with moves to west London.

For Maresca it leaves his squad in a state of flux. Pre-season is now just around the corner and the final make-up of the group he is likely to take on tour to the United States is now clearer. What is not in doubt is just how much Chelsea are going to act as transfer disruptors.

Here, football.london brings you analysis of the latest transfer news and reports on the Blues…

Dewsbury-Hall agreement

Chelsea have reached an agreement with Leicester City over a deal to bring Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall to the club. The 25-year-old spent last season playing under Maresca at the King Power Stadium and was a standout in their eventual Championship title win.

The deal is expected to cost Chelsea around £30million and will be their fourth confirmed signing of the summer. Dewsbury-Hall follows Omari Kellyman, Tosin Adarabioyo, and the delayed move for Estevao Willian to Stamford Bridge.

READ MORE: Full confirmed list of Chelsea ins and outs after £37m move confirmed

READ MORE: Chelsea reach £30m Dewsbury-Hall ‘agreement’ for fourth Maresca transfer

Chelsea are also in talks with Leicester over a separate deal that would see Cobham midfielder Michael Golding go the other way. Golding made his first-team debut under Mauricio Pochettino earlier this year.

football.london says: “PSR strikes again. Just how likely was this deal if Maresca hadn’t been made the new head coach? Although Dewsbury-Hall is a fine player, there is a sense of financial necessity in this for leicester, especially with the Foxes facing possible punishment for their own alleged breaches.

“In isolation, though, Dewsbury-Hall is a smart if unremarkable piece of business. Although there isn’t a great record for players following their former boss and being massively successful, this should in theory help both Maresca and Dewsbury-Hall settle.

“Chelsea aren’t short-changed in midfield though. Before this deal is completed and possible transfers away from SW6 take place as well, the list is as follows: Lesley Ugochukwu, Cesare Casadei, Enzo Fernandez, Moises Caicedo, Carney Chukwuemeka, Conor Gallagher, Romeo Lavia, and the returning Andrey Santos from loan.

“Gallagher is the closest in profile to Dewsbury-Hall, so what impact might this have on his future? Some of these players surely need to exit if there is to be any semblance of future planning without simply stockpiling. Should one of those be Gallagher then he would effectively fund the deal. The two will certainly be fighting for the same spot.

“Gallagher hasn’t given in to competition from anyone so far in his Blues career, but this would be slightly different.”

Chukwuemeka to Milan, again?

Alongside news of Dewsbury-Hall arriving is yet more talk of Carney Chukwuemeka going. Once more reports (mainly from Italy) suggest that AC Milan are keen on signing him.

football.london has written previously about Milan’s admiration of the former Aston Villa man, though that has referred more to loans rather than permanent transfers. The Rossoneri are now said to be interested in sorting a deal that includes an option to buy: Chelsea, one way or another, don’t want to agree to that just yet.

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football.london says: “Selling Chukwuemeka – or loaning him with an option to buy – and signing Dewsbury-Hall is where things don’t start to add up. Things haven’t gone well so far for the midfielder but he is still one of the most promising players at the club.

“Chukwuemeka could become anything. He is that good. Given the financial issues for most Italian clubs it’s therefore hard to imagine a deal being agreed will be worth the sort of price that Chukwuemeka may well go on to be worth.

“Selling Chukwuemeka would also be yet another player signed by the Clearlake Capital-Todd Boehly ownership group who has failed to actually succeed at the club. Questionable wouldn’t be the half of it.”